Catoctin Creek Trout

I had a good day of catch and release trout fishing at Catoctin Creek in Northern Maryland on 3/11/13. The day started out at Antietam Creek at Devil's Backbone Park trying to catch some trout for dinner. I tried several runs below the bridge and above fishing with streamers. The place appeared to be dead though there were many fisherman trying with flies, bait and spinners. I was surprised that there were some people on Monday morning. I gave up after several hours.

DNR is checking fishing licenses at this location so be sure to have a nontidal freshwater license with the trout stamp. I had mine and the DNR officer told me "I hope you get your money's worth." Put and take trout fishing is about the sport and trout dinner that night. I decided to try the Catoctin Creek that was stocked for catch and release fishing. I tried a nice hole with a streamer pattern but caught nothing. As I was leaving I talked to a man and he said the place had been stocked with Rainbow Trout. Not wanting to go home without any action I went back to the same pool and this time fished with a bead head pheasant tail nymph. I cast across the stream and let it swing down then tap tap I hooked a Rainbow Trout. I took two Rainbows out of this pool. This same pattern repeated itself downstream as I fished several runs. Tap tap at the end of the swing as I let the nymph lie in the current worked well. In all I caught six Rainbows 10-12" long. They fought well though a little sluggish due to the extremely cold water. It pays to try something else if your pattern is not working. This was my first successful trip of 2013. If the water gets warmer, hopefully the trout will be more active and will start hitting all patterns. Tight lines all.